I’m not above bribery. (After all, remember what I did on Father’s Day). Here’s your chance to earn a quarter. The picture to the right documents that the quarters are in my study awaiting the worthy. You’ll have to read the post to learn how to qualify.

Sunday (D.V.) I will preach the first of four messages on 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Admittedly, four sermons on six verses is a Lloyd-Jones-esque pace (and I am not DMLJ!). However, I think the passage warrants some extra time for several reasons:

• Paul’s overall point is that salvation is a gracious gift of God: the good news that salvation is through Christ. To illustrate this point, as Paul is inclined to do, he points to his own story. From the pulpit, this is a good place to make sure that our congregation is familiar with the conversion of Paul and his subsequent ministry. This will require two sermons. See my post, the Miracle that was Paul.

• At the heart of 1 Timothy 1:12-17 is one of the “faithful sayings.” This phrase appears 5 times, only in the pastoral epistles, and these are very important texts. This verse (1 Timothy 1:15) needs a sermon all its own.

• Paul’s benediction in 1 Timothy 1:17 is an incredibly rich text. Read it and you will understand why I am devoting a sermon to it. (I could preach a sermon on just the word “amen”!)

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

You will benefit far more from these sermons on 1 Timothy if you prepare in advance. Let me suggest 7 ways you can prepare for the coming messages.

1. Read 1 Timothy. Remember – – it’s a letter from Paul to Timothy about the young church in Ephesus. Picture the situation. Imagine a young, rather timid, at times sickly, young man carrying out Paul’s directives. Meditate with pen in hand.
2. Show up at my study at 8:30 to pray on Sunday. There is a standing invitation for people to pray with me before church. To be honest, I wish more people would come! Nothing meaningful happens in church apart from prayer!
3. Read the story of Paul’s conversion. Start with Acts 7:1-9:31. But don’t miss Galatians 1:11-2:10 and Acts 26:12-32.
4. Read our text for these coming Sunday’s aloud either to your family or alone (1 Timothy 1:12-17). There is something about reading the Word of God aloud! I just read this text aloud and it took only 52 seconds. (See a very simple devotional tip for your Saturday).
5. Memorize a verse. How about 1 Timothy 1:17? There are lots of tips for Bible memory on my web site!
6. Listen to one or more of the sermons I have already preached on 1 Timothy. They are all available online.
7. Study Numbers 15:22-31 and Hebrews 6. Here’s your chance for the quarter. I’ll give you a quarter if you can figure out why the Numbers and Hebrews passages are important background for 1 Timothy 1:12-17! But you have to show up for prayer at 8:30 on Sunday to receive your quarter. . .